Debt:
The average debt per household is now up around $15,000 and that is NOT including student loans. After going through Financial Peace University at church, one of the most simple things that still sticks in my head is that $$$ issues are behavior. Not a matter of financial knowledge- but lack of discipline to make the hard choices with their $$$ now. So back to vision- I think one of the only ways to begin the journey to becoming debt free is visualizing what life will look like without credit card payments, car payments, student loan payments, and ultimately mortgage payments. FREEZE- think about that. Take time and visualize what it would REALLY look like to not owe people tons of money every month. FREEDOM.
Health:
Only you can make the choice to change. You must visualize what it will feel like to loose the weight you want to lose. How wonderful it will be to fit in certain clothes again, or feel GOOD about yourself for once in a very long time. Until you can actually visualize that new healthier you you will never change.
Marriage:
The rate of divorce in this country is out of control- but not really surprising. We live in a society where its a -I want what I want, when I want it and how I want it mindset. Instant gratification. Marriage will never work like that. At the end of it all, marriage will never work if you are in it for your good and your satisfaction. It just wont. I have an AMAZING husband and am beyond blessed but here is the deal- i make the choice everyday to love that man. I mother drilled into our minds for many a years that we must CHOOSE to dwell on the positive in our spouse. Its easy to see where they went wrong, how screwed up they are, how selfish and insensitive they are...blah blah blah. Your marriage will always be what it is until you change your mindset. You must visualize what a wonderful marriage will look like in order for it to be worth the fight. I can tell you this- marriage is incredible. It is Gods gift to us. But until you see what it can be- you will never FIGHT to make it work.
Salvation:
I really dont know where to start here because its way more than anything I can type onto a silly blog but here is the foundational truth. God loves you. He created you. He wants to know you. He wants to use you. You will never accept that truth until you sit - quietly- and visualize this. God loved you so much that he sent his son- Jesus Christ to die. DIE. Die a brutal death for you. You are a sinner and in order for your sin to be atoned for a holy sacrifice had to be made. If you actually sit long enough you will know that you believe that nothing in and of you is or ever will be good enough for a holy God. His holiness DEMANDS our holiness. We are not holy- so God knew something was necessary in order for us to have a right relationship with him. So he sent his son, to live a holy life-blameless. When he died on the cross it was the atonement necessary for our sins to be wiped clean. When you take time to visualize that. That God loves you, sent his son to die for you- you will realize that there is nothing in and of yourself that you can do to make God love you any more. All you need is to surrender yourself and ask for his saving grace to wash way your sin. There is no perfect prayer- you must simply realize and confess that you need Him.
Vision- seeing what you can not see yet- or put another way, seeing your life, situations in a different way than you have been seeing them. Debt problems are real and hard. Health and Weight loss is NOT easy the problems are real and hard. Marriage problems are real and hard. Salvation questions can seem complicated.
The reality is that only you have the power to change.
With Debt- make a decision to start with some system to paying off the debt quick- as fast as possible. (To use Dave Ramsey's theory) With gazelle intensity which is this- Cheetah's are crazy fast animals- but the gazelle manages to outrun the cheetah the majority of the time. You know why? The gazelles life DEPENDS on it. The cheetah will find an easier meal. Attack debt like your life depends on it.
With health- take small steps, better food choices, start walking, get accountability.
With Marriage- Work on you. Choose to make it your goal to not think negatively about your spouse anymore. No matter how crazy or screwed up- make a choice to dwell on the positive. Pray for your marriage- seek to honor them, respect them, serve them and love them without expectation.
With salvation- Open the bible. Read about Gods crazy love for you. It doesn't matter where you start John many people say is a good place, but here is the truth. All the bible speaks of Gods relentless pursuit of his people. From beginning to end He seeks to restore and redeem his people to their first love. And the only thing that will ever bring true joy, true peace, true satisfaction. The reality of salvation though is this- God is graciously warning you now and giving you the opportunity to repent. There is no guarantee of tomorrow.
The speaker I heard also said this- Our life will move in the direction of the most dominate image I have in my mind. Read that again.
Our life will move in the direction of the most dominate image I have in my mind.
The vision you have of yourself determines your next 6 months. Agree with the lie you are currently choosing to be- or agree with the truth. But- be prepared to live in the reality of what you choose.
We all have so much fear attached to these things that we want so bad, but cant seem to get. I loved what she said on fear:
1. Fear is Fake
2. Do it afraid.
Do it afraid & prove to yourself that it is easy. The small steps are simple.
Turn from a point of weakness to a point of strength.
Walk in what you want & believe.
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